12 Vital saftey tips for women driving alone

All motorists need to be careful on the roads, but female drivers, unfortunately, have to be even more vigilant in order to avoid falling prey to criminals acts such as high-jacking, intimidation, sexual assault or worse.

Women who drive alone, no matter if it's at night or in the day, need to take a few extra precautions.

For instance, should you notice a vehicle following you closely, turn into a different road than the one you would normally take, but take note of road signs and landmarks so that you remain aware of your surroundings.

Should the other vehicle turn into the same road, take a few more twists and turns. If the other vehicle continues to stick with you, it would be safe to assume you are being followed and may be the target of foul play.

However, do not stop or allow the other driver to pull up beside you, or try to out-drive them.

Drive to the nearest police station - but if it is too far or you don't know where it is, drive to the nearest fuel station or convenience centre.

Here are a few more safety tips:

1 Don't drive after dark into areas you don't know, if you can avoid it. It is easy to get lost, and become a target as a potential victim.

2 Ensure your cellphone is fully charged - and invest in a car charger should you not already have one.

3 On taking a long-distance drive, try have someone else with you. In the US, some women drivers take along a "friend", which is in fact a male blow-up doll! They dress the doll, cap and all, strap him into the passenger seat and recline it so it looks as if the "male" passenger is asleep.

4 Keep an emergency kit, snacks and water with you at all times. Should your vehicle break down, pull over and call for emergency assistance. If someone offers to help, stay in your car and roll down the window only a few centimetres - just enough to tell the person that help is on the way, or to ask them to make the phone call if you do not have a phone.

5 Never accept a ride with someone you don't know. Unfortunately, we live in a country with a history of abuse towards women. No matter how friendly the help may seem, you need to stay in your vehicle until help arrives.

6 Ensure your car is well serviced and maintained to reduce the chances of a breakdown, and have a safety check done before each long trip. Better still, learn how to change a tyre, jump-start the battery, or change a wiper blade. The more you empower yourself with basic maintenance tips, the less chances of you being the damsel in distress.

7 Women attract attention simply by being women drivers. No matter what type of car you drive, just for being a woman some freak may try to engage with you on the road. It is safest not to respond, no matter how cute you think he is. In fact, don't even look at someone who is trying to get your attention - just drive on, or turn at the next intersection. If it is more a case of road rage, don't get into a verbal exchange, just take the high road and ignore him.

8 Keep the volume of your sound system at a reasonable level so you are aware of your surroundings and, tempting as it may be to check phone messages or update Facebook and Twitter while in traffic (your phone should be off every time you turn on the ignition), you leave yourself vulnerable to highjackers and smash-and-grab thugs who could use the element of surprise to creep up on you.

9 Ensure your vehicle is locked at all times, even when you are driving (many vehicle's have self locking doors which is very handy) and make sure your windows are not open all the way down, especially when you approach intersections which swarm with street vendors, newspaper sellers, beggars and street kids. Should you wamt a leaflet, give money or are asked for directions, first look around to make sure you are not being distracted by the person only to be robbed by his con partner. Open the window only a centimetre or so to talk to any strangers.

10 Parking areas of shopping malls and office parks are a haven for all types of criminals. Before leaving any building, ensure that you have your car keys in your hand. Do not use your cellphone as this will distract you.

Also, be wary of school children looking pieces of paper, people asking for taxi fare or directions - generally do not interact with any strangers. If there is a large vehicle or suspicious looking car parked next to yours, or even if you feel uneasy about approaching your vehicle, rather find a security guard or car guard to walk you to yours. If no one is available, look for a nearby couple or group of people and either ask for an escort or simply blend in with them should they be walking in the direction of your vehicle. When approaching your vehicle, regardless of where you have parked it, always walk around it to check for any irregularities.

11 Be particularly vigilant with regard to your wheels, as often criminals place sharp objects either behind or in front of your tyres in an attempt to puncture them, or when placing goods into your boot. Position your body and trolley in a manner which would give you an advantage over a would-be attacker. Do not use your cellphone or fiddle with your handbag and do not lean too far into the boot. Some security fundis even advise women with long hair to tie it back for a clearer, all-round vision.

12 Lastly, do not assume that an unmarked vehicle with flashing lights is a police car. If you are not sure and asuspicious looking "police vehicle" tries to pull you over, keep on driving until you can pull over in a well-lit area such as a fuel station. Park as close as you can to the entrance of the kiosk or ata fuel pump and hoot . This will attract - and annoy - the attendants, but you will be safe. Should the vehicle following you be genuine police in it will approach you. When they do, open the window just enough to speak to them and ask to see their police IDs.

Remember, some criminals use police uniforms to do dirty deeds, but at least there are more people around at lit-up public places.

Also, if they were police and not criminals they would probably not have followed you all that way.